'Carson' Ballet Flat (Women)

I've been wearing these for years and have probably gone through 5 pairs. They're super cute and comfortable, but 2 big complaints that are making me rethink buying them again: - there's a spot of the sole under the ball of your foot that at some point completely falls out, to where there's an empty hole, huge bummer that makes the shoe pretty useless after that. - the last two pairs I've gotten haven't been as high quality. the leather was a lot thinner and stretched out so much they wouldn't even stay on when walking within 10 times of wearing them

This is my second pair. My first pair I loved.. Then I got another pair in a different color.. Within 3 weeks they were all stretched out and looked cheap. I looked in the inside and noticed my first pair is made in China and the new pair made in Mexico. The ones from Mexico were slightly wider and flimsy. I returned them and found out all of them are now made in Mexico. Bummer.

I cannot possibly be the only one that has had this issue. These, because of how soft the leather is, stretch so much, and lose all stucture, especially in the heel. I sized wayyyy down, to the point where they were much too tight for the first couple wears, but then became perfect. After maybe a week or so of perfect shoe bliss, the heels on these started to sag. And they never stopped. Now these shoes are a floppy, saggy mess, that cover about a quarter inch of my heel, which makes keeping them on impossible. These shoes are far too expensive to turn to mush after a couple weeks.

I bought these flats in a silver/metalic color earlier this summer. They are absolutely fantastic! Although I was a bit hesitant about the price at first, I knew they would be worth it, and they definitely were. They are a little slippery when you first wear them, but after wearing them a time or two, they are just right. I typically wear a size 7.5 or 8 and the 8 was perfect. I wear them almost every day with jeans, skirts, and dresses and always get a ton of compliments. If you are looking for a versatile pair of flats, these are them!

I am on my third? pair of Carson flats. I think I alternate between the black and cognac pairs for, uh, most of the week. These are just my default shoes. They're great for whatever and can be dressed up or down if need be. I love driving in them thanks to the thin, flexible sole. The leather molds nicely to your feet over time. There isn't a lot of support, but that's what I prefer, so it's never been an issue for me. The lone drawback is the leather sole. You need to thoroughly scuff the bottoms of a new pair to have any traction whatsoever, and even then, the temptation to get them re-soled with rubber soles is high. I ate it walking in a hilly part of my neighborhood in these and have been timid about that ever since. Smooth cobblestones and asphalt are my nemesis. Snow = also bad! These are the best airport shoes since they slip on and off easily, but if I've got to run to a gate, these suckers come off. It's not an issue in flatter cities—NYC or downtown Austin, for example—but if you routinely walk around somewhere hillier, buyer beware. I also do not recommend drinking out of them if you win something. The low sides let more of the outside world in than, say, a taller boot. Bring your boot to the awards ceremony, and drink out of that instead. (FYI.) To wit: I did not specifically take a photo of these shoes for this review. I opened the "photos" folder on my computer because I knew there had to be a photo of these shoes in there somewhere, and here they are. The shoes. (No, I did not break the windshield.)

If you're looking for a versatile flat, do not look any further! I recently purchased the Carson ballet flat in Cognac, and I love them. At first try on I thought they were a bit small. I ordered 8.5, and usually wear between 8.5-9. After wearing them a few times they stretched out a bit and now fit just right. They look adorable with skinny jeans, and can even be worn with a simple dress. I love the color Cognac as it goes with everything! They took no time to be comfortable, no "breaking-in" period if you will. Worth the investment for sure.